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Abstract
Between September 1992 and June 1994, 20 patients with 27 open fractures were treated
at a major Ethiopian hospital by open reduction and internal fixation. Sixteen fractures
were caused by gunshots, eight by road traffic accidents, two by direct blows, and
one by a fall. Twenty-one fractures were stabilized with ASIF plates, and six with
screws and wires. Five fractures out of 27 (18.5 per cent) developed infection postoperatively.
In one case secondary wound infection subsided after wound excision and plate removal.
In three others the implants were replaced by external fixators, in two of which the
infection subsided and the patients left hospital without infection. The two remaining
patients were treated for
and 18 months respectively for chronic osteitis. Ten of the 15 patients without postoperative
infection returned for follow-up. None of them had developed osteitis. The overall
functional results were good.

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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
June 10,
1996
Identification
Copyright
© 1996 Published by Elsevier Inc.